Kumagaya City Child-Rearing Support and Health Hub Facility "KumaKids" to Open on April 1, 2026 (Wednesday)

Starts Corporation (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Toyotaka Muraishi) is the lead company in the "Kumagaya City Child-Rearing Support and Health Hub Facility Development Project," a PPP project in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture. Kumagaya City and Kumagaya Child-Rearing Support and Health Hub Facility Co., Ltd.*1 (Head Office: Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture; Representative Director: Kazuya Hiraide), which serves as the designated administrator, will open the Kumagaya City Child-Rearing Support and Health Hub Facility "KumaKids" on April 1, 2026 (Wednesday).

This project aims to enhance child-rearing and health-related functions and establish seamless support from pregnancy to child-rearing, alongside the reorganization of aging nursery schools and health facilities in Kumagaya City. The approximately 27,000㎡ site will house five functions: "Children's Hall," "Ishihara Children's Club," "Chuo Nursery School," "Health Center," and "Holiday/Night Emergency Clinic," consolidating childcare, play, learning, consultation, medical care, and health promotion in one location. It will operate as a new community hub supporting a safe child-rearing environment and healthy living. (Facility details on the next page)

The Starts Group will be involved in the maintenance, management, and operation of this facility for the next 15 years, overseeing project management. Through this facility, we will strive as a group to realize a hub that supports the "various starts" of all citizens, such as childbirth and child-rearing, and continuously fosters the growth of children who will lead Kumagaya's future.

*1 A special purpose company established by Starts Corporation, Starts CAM Co., Ltd., Starts Facility Service Co., Ltd., Okinaya Co., Ltd., and Comarm Co., Ltd.

■ Facility Overview

Project Name: Kumagaya City Child-Rearing Support and Health Hub Facility Development Project

Facility Nickname: KumaKids

Location: 3-27 Ishihara, Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture

Site Area: Approx. 27,000㎡

Website: https://www.kumakids.org/

Instagram: kuma_kodomokan

Access:

● Approx. 25 minutes walk from JR Kumagaya Station

● Yuuyu Bus Naomi-go

　0 minutes walk from "KumaKids"

● Approx. 15 minutes walk from Chichibu Railway Kami-Kumagaya Station

● Approx. 5 minutes walk from Asahi Bus "Kishodai Iriguchi" (Meteorological Observatory Entrance)

■ Facility Composition

● Children's Hall: A hub supporting play, interaction, and learning for parents and children

This child-rearing support facility can be used by children from infants to elementary, junior high, and high school students, according to their developmental stages. It offers both a safe space for parents and children to spend time together and an environment where children can engage in activities independently.

Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Closed: New Year holidays (December 29 to January 3)

● Ishihara Children's Club: After-school care supporting safety and growth

This after-school care facility provides a "third place" for elementary school students whose parents are not at home during the day due to work, offering a place to stay after school and during long holidays, neither home nor school.

● Chuo Nursery School: A safe childcare environment for pre-school children

This is a large public nursery school with a capacity of 150 children. It provides safe and high-quality childcare for children from 0 years old up to pre-school age.

● Health Center: A health hub supporting citizens from pregnancy to adulthood

This center comprehensively supports the health of citizens, from maternal and child health to adult health. It promotes seamless support during pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing, while also advancing health promotion for the entire community.

● Holiday/Night Emergency Clinic: A reliable medical system for sudden illness

This facility is established to ensure medical care for emergency patients on holidays and at night. It provides treatment for relatively mild internal and pediatric medical conditions.

Consultation Days (Holidays): Sundays, public holidays, substitute holidays, December 30 - January 3

Consultation Hours (Holidays): 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Consultation Days (Night): Daily

Consultation Hours (Night): 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

● Outdoor Plaza: An outdoor space usable for various purposes

Located surrounded by the five functions, various plazas are provided for people of all generations to spend time freely. Play equipment supporting active exercise and play is installed within the lush green landscape.

■ Interior Photos of Children's Hall

■ Key Points of This Project

Point 1: Nickname "KumaKids" imbued with the wishes of Kumagaya citizens

The facility's nickname was selected from a total of 8,123 applications, mainly from elementary and junior high school students in Kumagaya City. It embodies the wish for Kumagaya's children ("Kids") to spend their time happily and healthily, growing up strong.

Point 2: "Inheritance of Memory and Creation of Space" at the former Sericultural Experiment Station site

To inherit the history of the "Sericultural Experiment Station" that once stood on this site, a layout plan was adopted that preserves existing trees to the maximum extent. Furthermore, the exterior design evokes the original scenery of Kumagaya, which developed as a post town on the Nakasendo road, and by arranging the buildings around a central plaza, it fosters diverse communication among visitors.

Point 3: "End-to-End Support" with five integrated functions

From the "Children's Hall" with play areas and consultation functions, to the "Chuo Nursery School" with a capacity of 150 children, and the "Holiday/Night Emergency Clinic" for initial medical care, all are consolidated in one location. The child-rearing support department and health department collaborate within a single site, fostering a regional child-rearing network, enabling meticulous support.

■ Project-Related Companies